Maggie Nelson is the founder and designer of sustainable clothing brand Poppy Lu Clothing, which has 1.1 million Instagram followers and over 608,000 on TikTok.

Nelson started the brand in 2023 after teaching herself how to sew during the pandemic, she recounts on her LinkedIn page. At Poppy Lu Clothing, Nelson upcycles discarded textile materials and handcrafts beautiful, modern pieces of clothing, from flowy dresses and tops to cozy sweaters.

Poppy Lu’s namesake is rooted in love: Poppy honors Nelson’s late grandfather-in-law, while Lu honors Nelson’s “spirited and stylish” daughter.

"Together, Poppy and Lu represent the perfect blend of tradition and creativity — something old and something new,” Nelson writes on the brand’s website. The statement hints at Nelson’s catchy phrase in her viral videos: “Something old, something new, say hello to Poppy Lu.”

Nelson’s growing platform speaks for itself: Nelson regularly uploads videos of herself thrifting for new textiles and repurposing them into custom pieces. She initially sold the pieces on Etsy before creating a website for the brand. Nelson’s pieces are wildly popular and sell out quickly, so Nelson posts updates on her Instagram page for new items.

Aside from creating a new space for sustainable fashion on TikTok, Nelson also has over 15 years of experience in the advertising industry. She’s currently the executive assistant to the co-founder and creative chairman at advertising agency Johannes Leonardo, and she’s previously held stints at McCann New York, BBDO Worldwide, and BFG Communications.

Nelson also uses her platform to educate on upcycling, sustainable fashion, and sewing. She has resources and sewing patterns available on her website, and regularly posts about her creative process in detail.

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